SFI Calls for Class Boycott on July 10 to Protest Kerala Governor

Speedy Summary:

• Protest Declaration: The students’ Federation of India (SFI) will boycott classes on July 10, 2025, to protest against Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s alleged attempt to saffronise state-funded universities.
• march Plans: College and school students affiliated with SFI plan to march to Central government offices across Kerala.
• Accusations Against Governor: SFI accused the Governor of undermining university autonomy by appointing “temporary Vice-Chancellors,” allegedly aligned with RSS’s ideological agenda in the higher education sector.
• Criticism of KSU and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan: SFI criticized the Kerala Students Union (KSU) for not supporting democracy and secularism protests on campuses and accused V.D. satheesan of covertly aiding RSS efforts in politicizing education systems in Kerala.
• Counterclaims by Satheesan: V.D. Satheesan rebutted these allegations, stating that Congress actively opposes attempts at saffronisation but condemned SFI for disrupting university functions and attacking KSU workers on campuses.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The escalation of ideological confrontations within academic institutions highlights growing polarization in Kerala’s political landscape tied closely to educational governance. While SFI’s accusations against Governor Rajendra Arlekar reflect concerns about preserving institutional autonomy, the specific charge of “saffronisation” underlines ongoing debates over balancing secular ideals versus perceived political influence.

Conversely, Congress leader V.D. Satheesan’s claims illustrate inter-party competition between opposition factions like UDF and student groups like SFI regarding who shoulders responsibility for maintaining democratic principles.

These developments could have broader implications for India’s federal structure as tensions between state governments and governors increasingly spill into educational sectors-a domain critical for societal growth yet frequently contested politically.For detailed reporting on this issue, read more here.